Delhi BJP Leader Criticizes Satyendar Jain for Opposing Mohalla Clinics' Closure

New Delhi, March 7 (NationPress) The former Health Minister and AAP figure Satyendar Jain voiced his opposition on Friday against the BJP government's plan to close down 250 Mohalla Clinics. The Delhi BJP criticized Jain’s remarks, suggesting they were an attempt to obscure the previous administration's failures.

Jain’s comments coincided with a letter from former Chief Minister Atishi to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, urging her to initiate the women’s Rs 2,500 monthly scheme on Saturday.

According to Jain, nearly 75,000 patients utilize the services of Mohalla Clinics every day in the city, arguing that to claim that 250 clinics exist only on paper is incorrect. “If these were non-existent, then what was the need to shut them down?” he questioned.

“Our sole request is to keep the Mohalla Clinics open as shutting them down would be punishing the public,” he stated.

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva criticized Jain, who is currently out on bail due to a corruption case, stating it was astonishing to see Jain, who once claimed to have memory loss, publicly defending the biggest scandal of his tenure.

Sachdeva accused the prior Arvind Kejriwal administration of leasing private properties rather than utilizing available government facilities for these clinics, labeling this an act of corruption.

He expressed hope that just as Jain’s memory returned to support the Mohalla Clinics, it would also return to acknowledge the financial irregularities being probed by the CBI and ED.

Sachdeva alleged that corruption permeated every aspect of the Mohalla Clinic initiative—from the rental of properties to patient examinations and medical testing.

He highlighted that before the Kejriwal administration, there were about 400 government dispensaries in Delhi, with many shut down to pave the way for Mohalla Clinics, which became hubs of significant corruption.

Sachdeva asserted that properties owned by AAP supporters linked to ministers and MLAs were selected for Mohalla Clinics, with rents paid considerably above market value, leading to kickbacks.

The Delhi BJP President questioned why the government overlooked available government dispensaries when establishing these clinics.

He also inquired if Jain would confirm that the rents for Mohalla Clinic locations exceeded market rates and whether he was ready for an investigation into this issue.

Sachdeva referenced a CAG report that raised concerns about payments made for patient check-ups and tests at Mohalla Clinics, indicating the necessity for an investigation.

Regarding the women’s Rs 2,500 scheme, Sachdeva commented that the frequent statements by AAP leaders and former Chief Minister Atishi about the initiative stemmed from their political desperation.

He mentioned that AAP leaders are aware that the two recent CAG reports could lead to lengthy prison sentences for Kejriwal and his close associates.

To divert public attention from these corruption-related CAG reports, AAP leaders are making dramatic and misleading statements concerning the Mahila Samman Yojana.

Sachdeva claimed that Atishi’s correspondence about the Mahila Samman Yojana is merely political maneuvering.

“If Atishi truly cares about women’s issues, she should explain why her party’s Punjab government has failed to disburse the promised Mahila Samman amount despite being in power for 37 months,” he remarked.

Sachdeva stressed that the BJP is fully dedicated to both women’s empowerment and the Mahila Samman Yojana, which will be implemented shortly.